Woodward Avenue cycling event spins its wheels in Royal Oak

Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit is popular with cycling clubs on weekends. A new event called Woodward Gran Fondo is in the planning stages to take elite and recreational riders along the full 27-mile span from Hart Plaza to Pontiac.

A new event for bicyclists to race or leisurely ride the 27-mile route of Woodward Avenue from Detroit to Pontiac - and back, without closing the street to traffic - is in the works for June 2013.

The Woodward Gran Fondo will offer a $10,000 prize for elite cyclists in the "The Big Race" component of the event and family fun for others in "The Big Ride."

However, as organizers roll out details of the event, Royal Oak officials are warning about the need to proceed with caution.

The City Commission delayed a vote Monday to support the Woodward Gran Fondo after getting memos of opposition from two of its top administrators.

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Royal Oak's city manager and police chief say somebody could get hurt or worse, particularly during the public ride that would follow the race. They're concerned about bicyclists ages 12 and up mixing with cars on a road with a posted speed limit of 45 mph.

Mayor Jim Ellison said elected officials discussed the issue for more than hour. They decided to delay a vote until after an event committee meets Tuesday and organizers hear more from police chiefs on Dec. 10.

"We like the event but we don't take safety concerns lightly," Ellison said. "We opted not to make a decision until we learn more about what is it they are trying to do and how can they address safety concerns."

The Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) is asking all government entities to back its plan to raise money to improve one of America's Byways. The Gran Fondo is expected to attract 200 national- and international-caliber racers and thousands of recreational cyclists.

The revenue for WA3 would come in the form of $35 entry fees for recreational riders and sponsor fees.

Pleasant Ridge is the only city to vote in favor of the event to date but it is just starting to pop up on council agendas. The Woodward Gran Fondo is tentatively set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 30, 2013. That's a Sunday.

Professional racers will begin at Hart Plaza, Detroit, and are expected to finish the 54-mile course in two hours. They will be escorted by a rolling, enclosed motorcade.

After the elite racers pass various cities, the recreational riders will be able to get on Woodward at different starting points planned for Detroit, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Pontiac.

The plan is to have the bicyclists use the right lane and buffer them by putting 80-100 "pace cars" in the lane next to that.

"The community riders would be somewhat protected" from traffic, said Heather Carmona, WA3 executive director.

"We think Royal Oak has little to gain from a successful event and much to lose should an accident occur, which the likelihood of an accident occurring is relatively high and the potential for any bicycle-motor vehicle accident to be deadly is very high," Johnson said in a memo.

Police Chief Corrigan O'Donohue agrees and said he is a "somewhat of a lone voice" in his memo to the Royal Oak City Commission.

The Michigan Department of Transportation has endorsed the event in which motorists will be encouraged to drive 25 mph and stay out of the right two lanes.

However, O'Donohue pointed out the official speed limit will remain at 45 mph and the two-lane designation for bicyclists isn't legally enforceable.

Royal Oak's police chief also said another major summer event will be difficult for him to staff. Officers aren't allowed to use vacation time for the Woodward Dream Cruise or Arts, Beats & Eats.

"This event would require the same," O'Donohue said in his memo. "This is very problematic for us. When we blackout certain dates on the calendar, it disrupts officers' vacation plans and results in lower morale. It also means we have to schedule more officers off duty (and fewer on duty) on other days."

Carmona said that will be a topic when the south Oakland County police chiefs meet.

"We will talk about sharing the load. I think we can make it work," she said.

Proponents say Woodward Gran Fondo would give WA3 matching funds for grants to invest in one of America's Byways, promote healthy living, showcase highlights like historic structures, and support non-motorized transportation plans adopted by many cities.

The event also will show that cars and bicyclists can coexist in the Motor City at a time when more communities, including Royal Oak, are promoting bikes as clean, healthy transportation.

"Cities that design their roadways for more than just the auto reap broad economic impact," a WA3 fact sheet on Woodward Gran Fondo says.

Carmona added, "These races happen all over the country. They attract tourists. Woodward was the first for so many things: the first paved mile, the first traffic light. Why not the first Gran Fondo in our state? Michigan State (University) will have one in East Lansing."

Carmona described the appeal of Woodward as strong for racers as a flat course that goes uphill slightly and for community riders.

"Everyone will be able to say I cycled the first paved road in the United States," she said. "Cyclists do a circuit and I think they will come back year after year."

Royal Oak's city manager contends safety issues with the event still in the development stages could cost a life.

"While the bicycle racers may average close to 35 mph, a brisk pace for the average middle-aged adult would be closer to 12 mph. Children will ride much slower yet. Mixing these varying speeds, the slower bicycle traffic with 50-plus mph motor vehicle traffic is a recipe for disaster," Johnson said in his memo.

While elite racers will be in an enclosed motorcade, the city manager said the public part of the event shows a "blatant disregard" for the safety of participants.

The police chief has a few other concerns particular to Royal Oak with several "problem" intersections. In his memo, O'Donohue said Woodward at I-696 is "busy and complicated," there are large churches with Sunday services at 11 and 12 Mile roads, and the intersections of Coolidge and 13 Mile Road are primary routes to Beaumont Hospital.

The chief also points out that Woodward at both Coolidge and 13 Mile are two of the tops three intersections for vehicle crashes.

And, the chief is concerned a one-day public ride will create problems down the road with more bicyclists, including children, using Woodward.

"Although the logistics and expenses are a concern, they pale in comparison to my main concern, which is safety," O'Donohue said. "I do not think it is responsible to encourage anyone to ride a bicycle in the roadway on Woodward Avenue."

Carmona said the chief is right. More bicyclists will use Woodward after the event.

"In our mind that isn't a negative," she said. "The idea is to change behavior."

Sharrows are logos of arrows with bikes painted on roadways to remind drivers they are sharing the road with bicyclists.

The WA3 plans to charge a $35 entry fee for community riders, who will get a T-shirt and water bottle. The money raised will be used to make Woodward more cycling and pedestrian friendly, beautify it and spur economic development.

As Carmona visits City Halls along the route trying to build support, she also notes the Woodward Gran Fondo could happen without the endorsement of cities or even MDOT because like drivers, bicyclists have the right to be on the road.